"Father how long has it been?" Came the dreamy lyrics of Will Turner.
Bill just sighed and leaned upon the railing on his son's right side. "Bout ten years to the day.
"It's time to go home soon isn't it?"
With a grunt Bill Turner nodded and drew a smile, "A letter came, said I'm going to be a father.." were his son's last words. Deep in thought Bill Turner wore the deepest glare as he watched the shoreline as his only son had taken a long boat and rowed towards land. One day in ten years.. that's all that he looked forward to each and every day, Will wouldn't stray from the sight of his beloved Elizabeth, and always kept his eyes in her direction regardless how far out to sea they'd drifted.
That fateful day, the day that Will was to surprise his daughter for her eighth birthday for the first time, was the very last time he'd left the Dutchman to step afoot the sandy beaches. Why? It was because that fateful day brought a near fatal experience to the family. It had been around spring when they'd gone into town for the festivities, as usual they'd gone into the stalls, watched jesters at play, and even visited the gypsies. Marie was a very curious child..she'd wondered into a tent in which an elderly maid remained seated. A smile was drawn, as she began enchanting the child with lost tales of the northern isles.
The old Gaelic jigs that played yonder, seemed to add an added mystery about the tales the old woman spun. She soon drew out her hand and asked the child if she could read her fortunes. Being as naïve as she was, didn't really believe in such things and so outstretched her hand. "Mmm I see a life filled with adventure.." she bean, enticing the girl to pull her stool closer. "What else?" Marie beckoned. " I see…" the smile of the old woman soon faded, " A tragic family curse hovers above you… you're father..he's a good man…but is lost to the sea." Marie didn't really like the woman's turn but she did seem to know what she was talking about-perhaps there was some truth spoken. " How did you know?" Marie quizzed quite impressed. The old maiden chuckled, " I know many things.." Deciding not to worry the child more decided to glaze the truth with a fairy tale. "Do you like mermaids?" the woman asked with a grin. "Yes I do!" Marie beamed. "Well you will meet a sea born young man, with eyes as deep blue as the sea, he will be a lad with soulful eyes, and a big heart lost to confusion. I see.. a charm.." She then opened the palm of her right hand and seemed to conjure a Trinity knot from the other.. " He will be one who will give you this charm…" she added before making the image vanish in smoke. "But beware the two tongued serpent and it's fellow the sparrow for one day you will come across such characters who'd fill your life with danger and darkness.. Hold those dear close to your heart, and light will never be far apart." she added. "You will lose what you seek, and find what you lost, before the midnight frost. " The old woman soon heard footsteps and left the child with a warming, "On the day ten years from this, you're paths of destiny will be amiss, beware the serpent and the sparrow, and keep those blue eyes you yearn to see close for it will save you from an eternity."
With that Will Turner rushed into the tent to find the girl just smiling, "What are you doing in there?" he said in a tone of concern as he picked the girl up. "you had your mother worried." And as the duo exited the tent, the maiden within seemed to vanish out of sight. "What's that you got there?" Will asked as the little girl dropped a trinket into his palm. It was a simple golden locket with a mermaid engraved upon its surface with strange markings which he couldn't read. The lyrics did make for a good set of decorative designs though, and so he didn't think more of it since then.
A dark cloud seemed to hover above the Turner family, and that night before the girl went to bed, she'd handed the locket to her father feeling a pang of fear. "You will make it on my next birthday right?"
With a smile he nosed the little girl, "Wouldn't miss it for the world my love." Hugging his child close, he retired to the room in which his wife lay waiting.
Upon arrival he automatically read the descending eyebrows of Elizabeth, "What's wrong?"
"It's Marie.."
Crawling in behind her seated figure wrapped his arms around her shoulders and leaned his chin upon the corner between her collar bone and neck. "What's happened..?"
Feeling is touch again Elizabeth leaned back and closed her eyes feeling whole once more, and for a long pause silence reigned. When finally words formed she uttered a quiet, "The girls are taunting her again.." Pulling back turned her face to her right, to look into her William's eyes.
Reading the sorrow knew how hard it was for a single parent to raise a child in such a society..he also knew how hard it would be for the child to grow up without two parents. Taking a deep breath now sat beside Elizabeth, with his head bowed low. "I wish things had been different.."
With that Elizabeth cut in, "If you hadn't-" Will should've known better than to say such words and regretted ever saying them. He knew where his Elizabeth would go with her train of thought and sighed, placing tender fingers upon her lips. "Am sorry.." Silence soon befell the room as they embraced each other in a tight hug.
"When she's old enough.. I will take her away from here.." He pulled back and stared lovingly into Elizabeth's eyes and stroked her cheek gingerly, "I'll take you both away from here.."
Alas, ten years from that day, he was due to arrive and take his family, disaster struck when they'd come across some official schooners who'd delayed their landing. Once everything was settled he'd finally managed to set foot on land, only to find his home ravaged, his wife gone and his daughter missing. The nanny was gone too, unable to stay until sunrise wasn't able to get the news that his wife had gone out to find him, nor the fact that his daughter was kidnapped by a slave trader. Thus the journey of the Triquetra had begun.